Spring in North Korea

13.04. - 23.04.2006

North Korea has a unique political system and it is always hard to arrange trips to that country. After several successful railway trips into the DPRK our partners in Pyongyang know how to satisfy railway enthusiasts. They'll do everything to make another successful trip. Steam in Korea is running on its very last leg so do not wait until the last locomotive has gone, or until a politician decides to block any further travel into a fascinating and unique country.

The headlines of the tour:

Kujang - Muksi by steam train (new line, new loco!)

Standard gauge steam train Kwail - Cholgwang (new line!)

Narrow gauge steam train in Cholgwang up to the sea (we never went that far before!)

Visit to the depot of Pyongyang with several M62 class Russian built diesels

Zurich Trams in Pyongyang

Visit to the tram depot Pyongyang

Travel by street car through Pyongyang

Travel by a normal underground metro train in Pyongyang (Berlin cars)

Tourist program including a visit to the mausoleum of Kim Il Sung

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is almost off limits to foreign visitors. During former stays we met with North Korean officials to discuss a number of tour proposals for railway enthusiasts, which ultimately led to the several successful trips FarRail Tours offered in the recent four years. While the very fact that the authorities agreed to foreign visitors exploring parts of the national railways, which are perceived as an installation of military significance, is remarkable, we even managed to include one of the numerous, and hitherto totally unknown, industrial narrow gauge railways in our itinerary as well as lines in areas which have been closed to westerners for more than three decades.

Our new itinerary covers only lines which were not part of any other programme before. In addition we'll see another Mika 0 in service. The tour is designed for the dedicated railway enthusiast, as well as for people who have a general interest in the country. To complete the feeling of a surprisingly different political system we'll show you the border between North and South Korea as well as the place where the Great Leader, Kim Il Sung was born and the mausoleum were he is presented to the public now.

Please be assured that you can expect absolutely first class pictures with professional managed authentic steam trains. The Koreans know what we want and they will do their very best to make this extraordinary event come true. Our unique tour will give you outstanding value for money.

Itinerary

Date

Itinerary

13.04.

Departure in Europe (different airports) to Beijing

14.04.

Morning arrival in Beijing, visit to the Forbidden City and the Tiananmen Square. Hotel Beijing

15.04.

Morning visit to the Great Wall north of Beijing (about three hours by bus) and take pictures of diesel trains passing the mountains (with the Great Wall on the top), 17.30 hrs departure Beijing main station by overnight train K 27

Late Morning by bus to Kujang, charter steam train with Mika 0 to Muksi and back, evening return to Pyongyang, Hotel Pyongyang

18.04.

In the Morning visit to Mansu Hill (with a huge statue of the Great Leader, Kim Il Sung), visit to the Tramways on Kwangbok Street and travel on a tram, late morning visit to the birth place of Kim Il Sung in Mansudae, in the afternoon we go by charter bus to Cholgwang to take a charter freight train on the narrow gauge railway, accommodation Nampho

19.04.

In the early morning our charter bus will bring us to Kwail where a charter steam train (Mika class) is waiting for us. Charter steam train to Cholgwang. Afternoon return to Pyongyang, shopping stop at the stamp's shop of Pyongyang where nearly every ever printed stamps of the DPRK is available, hotel Pyongyang

20.04.

Morning visit to the railway museum and to the metro museum of Pyongyang, visit to the depot of Pyongyang (M62), late morning visit to the Metro system and ride a part of the line on a scheduled train, afternoon visit to the war liberation museum, late afternoon visit to the Exhibition of the Three Revolutions (three locomotives as exhibits)

21.04.

In the morning visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the mausoleum of Kim Il Sung. After that ride with the Zurich Tram and take pictures of these green trams, afternoon visit to the Party Monument and take pictures of tramways nearby, evening by charter bus to Kaesong, accommodation folk hotel Kaesong

21.04.

Morning visit to one of the very few cities of North Korea which were not destroyed by bombs during the Korean war. Continue by charter bus to Panmunjong, where the borderline between North and South Korea is. Afternoon return by bus to Pyongyang, hotel Pyongyang

22.04.

Morning visit to the square in front of the railway station with several trolleybus and tram lines. 10.10 am departure by daylight international express across North Korea to the Chinese border in Sunujiu/Dandong, and onward to Beijing

23.04.

09.35 am arrival in Beijing, transfer to the airport and flight back to Europe, arrival on the same evening

Description of trains and routes

Our standard-gauge special train in Kwail comprises a Japanese-Mikado, similar to the Chinese Jiefang-type, and approximately five freight respectively five green standard passenger cars. Such compositions have always been, and are still, typical for North Korea's branch railways. The line from Kwail to Cholgwang is not electrified and rather scenic. It passes through fields and wide valleys. Five photo positions were negotiated and agreed. Anyhow, the experience of former tours is that it might be possible to arrange some more runpasts on the spot. The line is 30 km long and leads north and eastwards. So an early morning departure will provide best opportunities for pictures with steam exhaust and sun on the smokebox on the parts of the line which runs to the east.

The narrow gauge line near Cholgwang was always out of bound until April 2005. After several long nights with the authorities we now can go at least four kilometres. The line runs through a spectacular country side and after some four kilometres you can get the sea in the backdrop. Light for this position is best in the late afternoon. The line to the ore mine is about 2.5 km long and two Hu Kishi 2-8-0 locomotives provided the shipments of minerals from the nearby mines to the port, which can not be visited.

The branch line from Kujiang to Muksi leads into a scenic side valley. It starts out of Kujang on a long, flat and photogenic bridge which crosses the wide river and passes under the new motorway. Many good positions are possible, five are allowed. The same notes we made about Kwail are valid here as well. We'll try to add some more positions on the spot. As these two lines are totally new for us (and haven't been visited by westerners since the 1950ies) we have planned sufficient time to explore them while taking pictures at the best positions. Sometimes we might have to improvise. Anyhow, the photographic potential is extraordinary, so we'll get some good shots for sure.

Our visit to the capital city of Pyongyang includes a tour on the world-famous metro system. The Pyongyang Metro is reportedly the deepest in the world, more than 150 m below the surface, and as such part of a huge underground system into which the two million people of the capital could be evacuated in case of an attack on the DPRK. The design of some of the stations is breathtaking, thanks to the lavish use of marble, chandeliers, impressive sculptures, carvings, mosaics and other murals. Many of the latter depict the founder of the country, president Kim Il Sung. The names of the stations like "torch", "glory" or "liberation" surely sound exotic to western ears.

Another important mass transit system are the Pyongyang tramways. The cars originate from formerly befriended countries of the European socialist block. A special ride through the grand city of Pyongyang with its monumental socialist constructions and beautiful parks will be a part of our itinerary.

The visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace (mausoleum of Kim Il Sung), depends on our behaviour on the first days. The required dress code is a suit plus tie for gents and appropriate clothes for ladies.

Our trip to Beijing will be by international train, surely an opportunity for priceless observations of this rarely visited country. In Sinuiju steam locomotives were spotted during the last two years, for branch line and shunting services. Other than that, various types of the self-built electric "Red Banner"-class as well as several diesels of the Chinese DF4-types or Soviet-made M62 "Taiga Drums" can be seen.

Miscellaneous

Charter buses and trains represent the standard of our host countries, which may deviate form European expectations. While we will try to avoid long walks, some photo positions may require a bit of an extra effort. The itinerary is designed especially for photographers and video filmmakers.

Temperatures are expected to be in the range of plus 5 to plus 20 degrees Centigrade. The autumn season is often very dry and sunny.

The hotel in Pyongyang is a five star hotel, in Kaesong a four star hotel. The hotel in Namphois not known by us personally, we only guess that this three star hotel offers a two star service. Please be prepared that food isn't available in unlimited quantities like in China.

Full board is included, but lunches will sometimes be simple, not to say "basic", especially during special train rides, while dinners are usually very good. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

Please note, mobile phones are not allowed in North Korea. You have to hand-over your mobile phone to the officials and will get it back on the last day of our tour. Laptops are allowed. Voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz in both countries, North Korea and China. An adapter for the outlet is necessary. In the DPR Korea it is not guaranteed that the voltage will be sufficient to recharge batteries in the same time as they normally need. Please be prepared.

Further information about special conditions in North Korea are supplied on request.

Price

The "Land only" arrangement excludes the flight to and from Beijing. Please deduct 650 Euro.

Please let us know in advance whether or not you would be interested to participate in small groups of 10 or 11 participants. Minimum number of participants is 10. The maximum number of participants is capped at 25.

The price includes:

Flight Frankfurt/Main - Beijing (some other ports of departure are available at the same price, please enquire)